JUDGE WARD AT THE AUCKLAND CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2501, 15 January 1887, Page 2

JUDGE WARD AT THE AUCKLAND CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

—o . On Wednesday afternoon at th e Auckland Supreme Court, when William Anderson, a prisoner, was called before. the , jury to answer a charge of. larceny as a bailee, it was found that the witnesses were not in attendance. Every endeavor was made to ascertain the cause, but it was not until after some time had been lost that the Witnesses and the detective in the case were; away, being under ithe impression that the case would come on to-morrow. His Honor commented severely upon the. conduct of the police, and pointed out that a gross miscarriage of justice would result. As there was no evidence before' the jury His Honor discharged. the prisoner, after which he. ordered Detective Hughes' prosecuting bond of £2OO to be estreated. Mr .Mendelssohn, a pawnbroker, and a girl named Helen Plow., who were summoned as witnessed would have.to„pay a fine of £IOO each for absenting' themselves, The Court then adjourned. Detective Hughes stated that he was under the impression that the prisoner was in the gaor'hospital, and would not be able to appear to-day. He accordingly told the witnesses to be jo, attendance tq-s morrow.-

At tlie opening of the Court on Thursday morning, Mr Williamson, Crown Prosecutor, rose to explain the unfortunate occurrence of the previous' day, when one Anderson had to be discharged from custody because no witnesses were forthcoming against him, Mr Williamson, explained th,at it was no fkult of Detective Hughes that he was not present to give evidence, as he had been instructed that the oase would not be called on so soon. The police had always shown an active zeal in attending to the business of the Court, and it was a matter of congratulation that similar cases did not more aften happen when the great number of witnesses connected with cases before the Court came into consideration, There were some 150 witnesses in attendance it this sitting of the Supreme Court. His Honor thanked Mr Williamson for his explanation, but said'that the matter of estreatinent and recognisanoe was beyond his power. It was off his hands, and he could not deal with it. He had always found the police show zealous activity in attending the wants of the Court, ,

The Auckland 801 l of Thursday night was very severe on the aotion of Mr ■ Justice Ward in dismissing the prisoner Anderson, in whoso case the evidence was not ready on Wednesday last." Tho- article, according to the Evening Press own Correspondent, •'goes on to say that in estreating the bonds of tho'-detectivcYand' witnesses, so far, His Honor acted with prqp.riety,. but then he directed the jury to acquit the prisoner who was accordingly dischargee-,: Jfovf here is wherp f-,he misc.arr'iage dfjus'ticelccijrrodi'and' it was/hjq Hqpr who caused' it,' We' do; not caro what the rules. of the Court are, but on this occasion he should not have, directed'the jury to discharge the prisoner, and had he not been in a pet he would nofc.have doneso, If he had power to delay the proceedings to in* fjiot a fine Hughes, and if 'he h'ad' tjie power' ''to'' Mm ijie prisoner for five 'minute's further for Miss "El'owi h'e had'power to delay She' proceedings for five hours, and if |e had not such'' '■ powers, ho '-"iiofe Have kept the prisoner -|aitjng thpsj ten minutes."-', ~ ' . ' .'